Defense argues that Michael Cohen's call to Trump was too short to have discussed Stormy Daniels hush money
Todd Blanche is now mocking Michael Cohen’s testimony about the evening of Oct. 24, 2016. This was testimony on which the defense lawyers felt they had scored a key point, because they found evidence that Cohen had talked to Keith Schiller, Trump's bodyguard, about a 14-year-old who was pranking him. Cohen later testified that he had talked to both Schiller and Trump during the call [phone records show it lasted 96 seconds].
But the defense clearly thinks it has a winning argument here. “It was a lie,” Blanche yells of Cohen’s testimony that he talked to Trump about the hush-money payment that night. He follows up by calling it “perjury,” emphasizing each syllable in the word.
Prosecution theatrically illustrates that there was plenty of time to discuss the Stormy Daniels hush money
Steinglass just started a timer and pretended to have the exact same conversation, adding plenty of asides and silences as he played the role of Cohen, talking first to Schiller and then to Trump.
The call felt as if it lasted a long time. But when Steinglass stopped the timer, it had only been about 49 seconds, significantly less time than the call in question. The point he was seeking to illustrate was simple: That Cohen could have easily talked to both men, just like he testified.
This was a real piece of showmanship — clever and useful at the same time. Moments like these show Steinglass’s experience, as a longtime trial lawyer who can lean into the innate theatricality of the role.
View Video
